Wow. That's the sum total of what I can say after watching Dreamgirls. Wow. Wow because of the brilliant direction. Wow because Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson deserved their accolades. Wow because of the musical itself. And wow because a surprising number of people on Spout are not interested in seeing this movie or rated it poorly.
Let's consider. Dreamgirls is a Broadway musical to film that chronicles the trials and tribulations of a fictional Motown girl-group, eventually called the Dreams, that are a direct reference and retelling of the story of the Supremes. At the center of their coming of age is Effie (Hudson), the unspoken leader with a mind-blowing set of pipes and an uncompromised, outspoken manner. A chance encounter with a fledgling manager and agent, Curtis Taylor, Jr. (Jamie Foxx in what is no doubt a caricature of Berry Gordy), and gives them their big break singing backup for Jimmy Early (Murphy), a clear send-up of singers like Little Richard and James Brown. As this magic combination becomes more successful, and Curtis becomes more market-savvy, the girls eventually get their own act, but because of attitudes toward race at the time, and because Effie is not as svelte and traditionally pretty, Deena (Beyonce Knowles) gets thrust forward as the leader of the group, recalling Diana Ross. Not without complications, for Curtis and Effie were in love, but Curtis loved the "product" more, and Effie's outspoken ways become no longer welcome. Of course, complications ensue amidst well-written, toe-tapping, gut-wrenching, Broadway-style R&B tunes.
First of all, this film was directed by Bill Condon and was directed brilliantly. It retained the pacing and sensibility of a Broadway play and did not self-indulge in movie trickery. Every frame was important, and it never got lost in itself.
Second, Murphy and Hudson deserved every accolade they were given. It's hard to believe that Hudson was an American Idol contestant, and I'm so glad I don't watch that show, but the mere fact of knowing that impressed me all the more. Her Oscar was well-deserved; I wouldn't have given it to anyone else in her category. Murphy was surprising in his performance as Jimmy Early, a character that turned out to have real depth and emotion rather than just remain a caricature.
Third, I have never seen this musical. The Grand Rapids Civic Theater will be opening its season with Dreamgirls, and it will be fun to see on stage. I absolutely love it. It has all of the infectious nature of a good musical with songs truly inspired by the era the musical focuses on, i.e. early R&B and Motown. That is a winning combination. No wonder it won the Tony.
Fourth, I'm simply aghast at the number of people not interested in seeing it. Give it a chance. And for the naysayers, I'm not exactly sure why this was rated so poorly for them. This is one of the best movie musicals I have seen. It may not be overly artsy, but it has a message and a unique sensibility that makes it a jewel.
On my patented ratings scale, I would rate this movie a 9 for perfectly entertaining. It's not a masterpiece, but it holds up well, and has very few, insignificant flaws in my opinion. I also think Dreamgirls passes the test. I would buy this to add to my burgeoning musicals collection. The songs are still rolling through my head, the movie's uplifting, and my expectations were not dashed. Plus, the rental copy I watched it on was scratched, so it would be nice to watch an undamaged copy.